Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Feb 21, 2008 2:02 pm We have the option of having either overhead power (current) or underground power. When I asked the distributor for the options they said that we could have either single phase or multi phase power.
Could anyone explain the need for multi phase power? and what exactly is it? Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 2Feb 21, 2008 2:59 pm We didn't get the choice of overhead or underground - we were told just to organise a power pit (or the builder would do it for us at an inflated cost). It ended up costing us $1995. We went for three phase power - not sure if we made the right decision but one day we want a pool ( a lot of pools can run off single phase power). Our existing split system requires three phase power and we planned on taking it with us. Fi has moved in!! Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 3Feb 21, 2008 3:13 pm Dreamy Could anyone explain the need for multi phase power? and what exactly is it? A lot of air-conditioners, especially larger ducted systems, require 3-phase (multi-phase) power - ie 415V. Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 4Feb 21, 2008 3:25 pm Hi,
Anyone with a bit of electrical knowledge out there able to tell me how to "spot" the difference between single and threee phase power when looking at a new meter box on the house? I've asked for 3 phase power from the builders, but I'd have no idea from looking at the meter box... Thanks. Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 5Feb 21, 2008 5:14 pm Have a look at mains switch inside your meter box. If it has 3 switches, in many cases joined together, you have 3-phase power. If using older meters, there will probably be 3 meters as well.
I'm not a sparky - I'm just going off what I've seen in mine and other meter boxes. Cheers, Jamie Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 6Feb 21, 2008 5:18 pm One thing I should add about 3-phase power. If you are getting 3-phase power but not installing an air-conditioner yet, you may have to sign something that says you are considering installing air conditioning in the next 12 months.
Otherwise the energy company may hit you with a fee of over $100. Integral Energy require this form but others may not. It was never explained to me why but I did have to sign a form prior to the power being turned on. Cheers, Jamie Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 7Feb 21, 2008 10:25 pm Another way of telling whether you have single phase or three phase electricity is to look at the number of wires entering your property. If you have two wires then you have single phase. If you have four wires then you have three phase.
You only need three phase for very large airconditioners or very large pool pump motors. Split systems are quite comfortable with single phase. Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 8Feb 22, 2008 8:05 am Another advantage of 3 phase, is the options available when you wire up the house - if you have a switched on sparky.
In a mate's place, he had 3 phase for the ducted system, but they also have a small split system in their main bedroom so they don't have to run the ducted at night (and cool 3 other unused rooms on the same zone). The sparky ran the bedroom split, oven & lights off one phase, all the power points off another, and the home theatre & study are on their own phase. He suggested it was to stop any annoying clicks through the audio system caused by the turning on/off of lights/washing machine/fridge compressor etc. Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 10Feb 22, 2008 11:06 am Phoenix,
They are both electronic - I think you mean the first has a digital display Usually, the old analog meters will handle one phase so if you have 3 phase, then you will have 3 analog meters. If you have the digital display meter, they usually have an option to query each phase by pressing a button. Dreamy, (Intresting name - are you?) A quick explanation of 3 phase power may help you deciede if you need it. AC power is transmitted as an alternating current ie. the current flows in one direction and then switches to flow inthe opposite direction 50 or 60 times per second. When represented on a time graph, it makes a sine wave pattern like this ~ By applying a second and a third current at a slightly different time, a second and third sine wave is formed. They ae said to be 120 degrees apart but basically they have their peaks and troughs at different times. This is used to try get as much power onto the line as possible since copper wire is expensive. When it reaches the homes, it is tapped off with each house getting a different phase. Since there are only 3 phases, several houses will get the same phase. Obviously with 3 phases, you get 3 times the current so when required, you can request to get all three so that your very high powered device can get enough power. If you don't have any very high powered devices and are unlikely to then you don't get any advantage with three phase. Hope this helps. Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 11Feb 22, 2008 4:41 pm Thanks Phoenix,
It's one of those digital meters.... Had a real close look at the picture of mine & it says 3P4W 3x240/415V..... I'm assuming that's 3 phase.... It also has 3 red switches under the 'main switch' label... Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 13Feb 28, 2008 12:06 pm My 2cents.. I just added a post to my blog with some information from our electrician about differences between Integral Energy and Energy Australia in this digital meter vs analog meter thing...
http://building-our-first-house.blogspot.com/2008/02/progress098-integral-energy-vs-energy.html Please note that we are in Sydney, so it might be different for your area... Hope this helps Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 14Feb 28, 2008 12:19 pm ahuang My 2cents.. I just added a post to my blog with some information from our electrician about differences between Integral Energy and Energy Australia in this digital meter vs analog meter thing... http://building-our-first-house.blogspot.com/2008/02/progress098-integral-energy-vs-energy.html Please note that we are in Sydney, so it might be different for your area... Hope this helps We also have the 3 analog meters from Integral. Let's just say, thankfully they're hidden away in a meter box Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 15Feb 28, 2008 12:30 pm Slightly off topic, Energy Australia seems to be a lot more advanced than Integral Energy.
Not only on this digital meter thing, have a look at their web site and you can even find photos of the digital meters they are using plus lots of technical information. Integral Energy's web site seems to be only providing general information for the public, not much details. I also asked our electrician can we be with Energy Australia even if our area is in Intergral Energy and he said yes, but that's only on the account level, the physical connection and wiring stuff still needs to following Integral Energy's standard.... So looks like there's no chance we can get a digital 3 phase meter... Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 16Feb 28, 2008 12:55 pm Continuing to be OT
Whilst the energy market in NSW is "deregulated" as you can choose who bills you, you cannot chose who provides the physical infrastructure. So say, if you signed up with Energy Australia, when there's a fault, you would still need to contact Integral to have it fixed. Who would have thought there's so much difference between the two considering they're government owned. Imagine how it'll be when they're privitised Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 17Feb 28, 2008 12:59 pm How do you find out what company will do your infrastructure? Is it on the net somewhere? After 4 years - we're in! Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 18Feb 28, 2008 1:06 pm stonecutter1309 How do you find out what company will do your infrastructure? Is it on the net somewhere? You'll fall under Integral http://www.integral.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/integralenergy/NSW/NSW+Homepage/ourNetworkNav/Our+network+area/ Us poor westies are stuck with them Re: Power: Single phase verses multi phase 19Feb 28, 2008 1:17 pm Thanks! I'm still getting used to being a westie (we're temporarily in Mt Druitt) - but I'm surprised at how cheap fresh fruit, veg & meat are out west! (compared to southern suburbs) After 4 years - we're in! 1 51565 Hello All 🙂 We are planning to start our journey of construction our first home. We zeroed down on Metricon and henley homes based on design suitable for our lot and… 0 1104 Has anyone used XCEM Alphafloor concrete panels for subfloor and would recommend them over other subfloor options (Hebel Powerfloor,… 0 4266 |